Core Reality Volume 4 Mars Legacy

By Thomas Funicello

Eighteen-year-old Corey Huston is a rookie operative with a family secret that threatens to surface when a stranger delivers a message from the father who abandoned her as a child. With help from her mission counterpart, she discovers the truth about herself and the need to stop the secretive organization she serves before they unleash their diabolical plans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886443691

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Prologue: The Pawn

Chapter 1: Routine Mission

Chapter 2: The Academy

Chapter 3: Lonely

Chapter 4: Challenge

Chapter 5: Nothing to Lose

Chapter 6: Interesting Trade

Chapter 7: Facing the Challenge

Chapter 8: Unexpected Crossing

Chapter 9: Nautilus Prime

Chapter 10: Silent Confusion

Chapter 11: Fly by Night

Chapter 12: Hidden Agenda

Chapter 13: Silent Running

Chapter 14: Solid Copper

Chapter 15: A Giant Problem

Chapter 16: Emergency Evacuation

Chapter 17: The Journey Topside

Chapter 18: Topside

Chapter 19: Halifax

Chapter 20: Kill Box

Chapter 21: Long Road Home

Chapter 22: Bittersweet Reunion

Chapter 23: Buried Secrets

Chapter 24: Mission and Purpose

Chapter 25: Cat and Mouse

Chapter 26: The Oklahoma Express

Chapter 27: Into the Dark

Chapter 28: Strange Invaders

Chapter 29: Desperate Measures

Chapter 30: Relentless

Epilogue: Mighty Men of Valor

About the Author

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Core Reality Volume 4 Mars Legacy

Thomas Funicello

ISBN 979-8-88644-368-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88644-369-1 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 Thomas Funicello and Fahren Funicello

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

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Prologue: The Pawn

The Pawn

Ceres Prime conference room, August 14, 1984

Deep beneath the gray surface of the Ceres asteroid is the Ceres Prime base where hundreds of Command personnel live and work. Station Chief Dalton is the only occupant of the main conference room and is talking with a Halifax contractor named Vorst over the large screen along the wall to the left.

Dalton. We are planning to bring Decker on as security chief. What did you find?

Vorst (on screen). Record is clean enough except for the Mars incident.

Dalton. But?

Vorst (on screen). He has a young daughter.

Dalton. I didn't see that in his file.

Vorst (on screen). She isn't in there.

Dalton. What about the mother?

Vorst (on screen). Estranged. In major debt.

Dalton. Any contact between Decker and either of them?

Vorst (on screen). No.

Dalton. Interesting.

Vorst (on screen). Does this rule him out?

Dalton. No, it makes him the perfect candidate.

Vorst (on screen). How do you figure?

Dalton. We have valuable leverage in case he strays.

Vorst (on screen). I see.

Dalton. Contact Gregson over at the Burton Academy. Let him know we have a priority recruit.

Vorst (on screen). Yes, sir.

Dalton. Tell him to offer the premium package.

Vorst (on screen). Understood.

Dalton. Dalton out.

The screen goes dark as Dalton considers the situation and smiles to himself at the thought of having secret leverage over his new employee. Dalton looks over as a young woman enters the conference room and addresses him.

Assistant. Sir, I have Major Decker on the comms.

Dalton. Put him through.

Assistant. Yes, sir.

The assistant quickly leaves the room. Dalton looks over at the screen as it lights up, then displays several pieces of communications data as it connects to another screen somewhere on Earth. The image on the screen changes to show a man sitting in a conference room with windows overlooking the city of Chicago.

Decker (on screen). Chief Dalton, this is Ray Decker.

Dalton. Major, I have a spot for you on my staff if you are interested.

Decker (on screen). Yes, sir.

Dalton. I want you for the security chief position.

Decker (on screen). Excellent, sir. I can catch a flight any time.

Dalton. You don't understand. The assignment is on Ceres Prime.

Dalton watches Decker process the idea of being assigned to the remote asteroid. Dalton smiles as he sees Decker struggle with the idea of being far from Earth and, presumably, far from his daughter.

Dalton. Is there something keeping you there?

Decker (on screen). No, sir. Just surprised at the opportunity.

Dalton. Good. My assistant will handle the transportation.

Decker (on screen). Yes, sir. Thank you.

Dalton. I look forward to you joining our team.

Decker (on screen). As do I.

Dalton. Good. Dalton out.

Once again, the screen goes dark as Dalton sits back in his chair and smiles at the arrangement.

*****

Alhambra Grade School, September 12, 1984

A white van with a utility company name and logo stenciled along the sides pulls up, then parks across the street from the Alhambra Grade School. The driver and passenger are dressed in blue utility company overalls. The driver of the van scans the vicinity as the passenger uses a camera with a telephoto lens to watch the main entrance of the school. The men in the van hear the school bell ring and watch as students begin to stream out from the front doors. Many of the children make their way to nearby buses, while others rush over to waiting vehicles. Several groups of children gather, then walk together away from the school grounds as the men in the van continue to watch. A young girl with auburn hair walks out from the main entrance and looks around before beginning to walk alone.

Passenger. There she is.

Driver. Copy that.

The passenger of the van begins taking photographs, then the driver pulls out from the parking spot and drives in the same direction as the girl. The passenger continues to take photographs as she leaves the school property and walks along Hartford Avenue. The driver slows when he notices the girl is acutely aware of her surroundings as she looks around and behind her as she walks with purpose.

Passenger. Don't lose her.

Driver. She's looking around a lot.

Passenger. Has she made us?

Driver. I don't think so.

The driver slows and pulls into a parking spot along the street as he sees the young girl stop walking and turn around.

Passenger. What's she doing?

Driver. Not sure.

The passenger continues to take the occasional picture as the answer to his question is soon revealed. The girl has stopped and turns around as three girls from her school approach. Although the men cannot hear what is going on, they can see the body language of the girl shift to a defensive posture.

Passenger. This should be interesting.

The three girls stop in front of the young girl and begin to taunt her. Based on their gestures, they are likely making fun of the girl because her clothes are not up to their standard of fashion. Soon, one of the three steps close and pushes the young girl. The men in the van watch as a second bully pushes the young girl, then knocks her books out of her hands. The three bullies are a little taller and heavier than the lone girl, suggesting they are a grade older.

Passenger. Not looking good.

Driver. Yeah.

The passenger continues to take photographs as the young girl seems to issue a warning to the three bullies who laugh in response. The third bully steps forward to take her turn but is surprised by a series of jabs and punches by the young girl. The other two girls advance but are met with a barrage of punches and kicks that leave them bloodied as they each fall to the ground. The young girl stands over them for a moment and seems to issue a final warning before she picks up her books, then kicks the nearest girl in the head before walking away. The men in the van sit in stunned silence for a moment.

Passenger. Wow.

Driver. Yeah. Did you get it on film?

Passenger. Every moment.

Driver. Good. Call it in.

The passenger takes one last photograph, then puts the camera down and picks up a radio microphone.

Passenger. Scout 1 to base.

Operator (over radio). Go, Scout 1.

Passenger. Subject rating is a one. Repeat, a one.

Operator (over radio). Copy that.

Passenger. Scout 1 out.

The driver pulls out from his parking spot and continues to follow the girl for several blocks as she resumes her walk home.

*****

Amanda Huston residence

A black suburban with dark tinted windows pulls up to a small brick house set along the tree-lined street of a lower-income neighborhood just outside of Chicago. A man and a woman step out from the vehicle and walk up to the front porch of the home with the name Huston stenciled onto the side of a dilapidated mailbox. The well-dressed pair take note of the condition of the yard and house as they approach the front door. The woman reaches out and presses the doorbell button but does not hear it ring. After a nod of consensus from the man, she opens the screen door and knocks on the wood front door, then allows the screen door to gently close. The man adjusts his tie as they wait and consider knocking again but hear activity from within the home followed by the front door opening, then a woman steps into view.

Gregson. Good afternoon. I am Principal Gregson, and this is Vice Principal Slater—

Amanda. What did she do now?

Gregson. Ma'am?

Slater. No, we are not from your school.

Amanda. Oh. Where are you from?

Gregson. We are from a private school in Virginia, and we would like to offer your daughter a scholarship.

Amanda. Scholarship?

Gregson. All expenses paid.

Slater. May we come in and talk?

Amanda. Sure. Come on in.

The woman pushes the screen door open, then Vice Principal Slater holds it open for Principal Gregson to enter first.

Gregson. Thank you.

The woman clears some papers from the sofa, then sits down in a nearby recliner as Gregson and Slater sit down.

Amanda. What kind of school is this?

Gregson. A school for talented children such as Corey.

Amanda. Virginia? I can't afford to move right now.

Slater. We understand.

Slater looks over at Gregson to allow him to present the complete offer.

Gregson. May I call you Amanda?

Amanda. Sure.

Gregson. Amanda, this is a unique offer, but it's not for everyone. The commitment means extended separation.

Amanda. Separation?

Gregson. Yes. The school goes year-round and requires focus.

Amanda. When does she get to come home?

Slater. We know it has been a struggle for you, and we want to offer you a generous compensation package to allow her to attend.

Gregson. Yes, quite generous.

Amanda. Compensation package? For school?

Slater. We are willing to invest heavily in her future, and that requires living on campus throughout her education.

Amanda. I don't understand.

Gregson. May I be direct?

Amanda. Please.

Gregson. We are willing to pay off all your debts and pay you a lump sum to let her attend.

Slater. The only catch is that you will not see her until graduation.

Gregson. She will be well taken care of.

Amanda. Lump sum?

Gregson smiles at Slater as he knows she is more focused on the money than the absence of her only child.

Gregson. Based on her skills and grades, we can offer you a lump sum or an annual payment.

Amanda. How much are we talking about? This is our future after all.

Gregson. I understand. We can provide you with an annual payment of seventy thousand dollars.

Slater. In addition to paying off all your debts.

Amanda. Seventy thousand a year.

Slater. Yes, for the next ten years.

Gregson is about to interject as the front door opens, and the young girl who beat up the three bullies walks into the house. She looks at the two strangers, then apprehensively looks to her mom as if assessing the situation.

Corey. Hi, Mom.

Amanda. Hi.

Corey. What's going on?

Amanda. This is Principal Gregson and Vice Principal Slater. They want you to go to their school.

Corey looks at the two strangers for a moment as they offer a smile, but she does not return the gesture. Her face is smooth, and while her posture is relaxed, her eyes are still wary.

Corey. What school?

Gregson. We are from the Burton Academy.

Corey. Academy? What kind of school is it?

Gregson. We are an exclusive private school.

Slater. We help smart and talented students like you get a top-class education and career opportunities.

Corey. Sounds expensive.

Gregson. Everything will be paid for by the scholarship. We will even help your mom with some of her bills.

Corey thinks for a moment, then looks over at her mother as she thinks about the current financial burden being taken off her shoulders. Amanda smiles and nods at her daughter as if to say it is okay to say yes if she wants. Corey looks around the unkept house and knows her mother needs help.

*****

Burton Academy

A black Suburban pulls up to the main building of the Burton Academy. The main building looks like it was built in the late 1800s, while the other buildings seem newer but have a complimentary design. Slater exits the vehicle, then walks around to the driver side and opens the back door. Corey exits the vehicle and grabs a small duffel bag that contains a sparse collection of personal items. Gregson exits the vehicle and walks her toward the main entrance of the school as she looks at several groups of children wearing school uniforms. Gregson opens the large ornate front door and motions for Corey to enter first.

Gregson. Welcome to the Burton Academy.

Corey briefly looks around at the well-maintained campus just before entering the building as she starts her new life.

Chapter 1

Routine Mission

New York School of Advanced Technology, February 8, 1993

The light of the late morning sun is obscured by a thin layer of clouds and the shadows of surrounding skyscrapers. Near the World Trade Center complex stands a large building that houses the New York School of Advanced Technology. The lower floors of the building hosts classrooms, lecture halls, and common areas for thousands of college students seeking advanced degrees. The upper floors contain laboratories and offices for the teams assembled to bring research grants and special projects to fruition.

*****

A tour group of twelve prospective college students and their tour guide gather in the fifteenth-floor elevator lobby of the building. The last people to exit the elevator are two young women that could pass for twins, especially since they are dressed the same. They are dressed and styled much like the other female students in the tour group. The two girls study their surroundings carefully as they exit the elevator and briefly talk while joining their tour group. The tour guide does not realize there is a thirteenth member of the group as Iris wears the lone visitor badge the two are sharing.

Iris. Ready?

Corey. Ready.

Corey nods, then looks toward the main entrance of the laboratory. Two guards flank each side as she notices that she's taller than one, who doesn't look much older than her.

Tour Guide. We are on the primary research level now, home to some of our biggest projects. Please stay together as we enter the main lab.

The tour guide directs the group as she walks to the main entrance of the laboratory. She shows her badge to the security guards stationed at the door, then passes through. Each of the students in her group then show their visitor badge as they enter. Corey walks away from the group before entering the secure area, then makes her way down a long hallway to the right as Iris enters the lab with the rest of the tour group.

Tour Guide. Gather up by me.

The group slowly gathers around the tour guide as requested, then a man wearing a lab coat walks up to them.

Tour Guide. This is Professor Wharton.

Wharton. Thank you, Ms. Jones.

The group gives the professor their full attention as he begins to talk about some of the research projects he oversees.

Wharton. Welcome to NYSAT. We are the premier research university in the country. Hopefully, some of you will join us one day.

The group follows the professor as he takes several steps toward a workspace hosting a variety of electronic components, testing equipment, and computer terminals.

Corey (over LaRS). Almost there.

Iris (whispers). Copy.

Wharton. We have several projects in the areas of communications, data encryption, and satellite imagery.

Professor Wharton ushers the group forward to another research workstation.

*****

Corey Huston has spent the past eight years living at the Burton Academy since leaving her mother that day after school. Her studies have gone beyond the reading, writing, and math subjects of her contemporaries. She has been trained in martial arts, covert operations, weapon handling, and infiltration techniques from the moment she arrived.

Corey. Getting close.

Corey and Iris are communicating with each other using their Layered Reality Systems, referred to as LaRS. The LaRS technology connects directly to the visual and auditory systems of the brain to provide real-time data, secure communications, and physiological enhancements. In this scenario, Corey sees visual cues to help her navigate the many halls, rooms, and potential threats on the fifteenth floor.

Corey. It feels wrong to break into this guy's office.

Iris (over LaRS). Selling secrets to foreign agents is a serious accusation.

Corey. I guess this could also prove his innocence.

Iris (over LaRS). It could.

Corey. Woah.

Corey ducks into a side room as her LaRS uses sonic interpolation of her surroundings to detect a security guard before he walks into view. Corey sees the guard walk past, then out of sight before she returns to her original path. Corey stops in front of a solid wood door to an office.

Iris (over LaRS). You okay?

Corey. Yeah. At the door.

Iris (over LaRS). Copy.

Corey. LaRS, activate locksmith protocol.

Corey sees the inner workings of the door lock mechanism overlaid across her field of vision as she takes out a set of lockpicking tools. She inserts two thin pieces of metal into the lock, then uses the overlay to help her quickly pick the lock. Corey puts away the tools, then opens the door.

Corey. I'm in.

Iris (over LaRS). He's getting close.

Corey. Copy that.

Corey steps through the open doorway, then closes the door behind her.

*****

Private office of Professor Wharton

Corey is standing in a large office, then quickly verifies it belongs to Professor Wharton based on the framed photographs, awards, and plaques placed throughout. Corey sees the large monitor that is connected to a mainframe computer on the corner of his desk and quickly makes her way over. Corey turns the monitor on, then presses a key on the keyboard to wake the terminal from sleep mode. The monitor displays a password entry box as the terminal beeps once.

Corey. Ready for the password.

Iris (over LaRS). Activating link.

Corey takes a moment to adjust to a live video feed being overlaid in the upper left corner of her field of vision. Corey sees the laboratory through her LaRS connection with Iris.

Corey. Link is good.

Iris (over LaRS). Recording.

Corey watches as Iris moves to a position where she can see the professor type his password into a computer in the laboratory. Iris uses a LaRS magnification feature to zoom in on the keyboard allowing Corey to watch and enter the same password into the computer in the office.

Corey. P-7-4-B-a-y-5.

Iris (over LaRS). He moved.

Corey. I need the last digit.

Iris (over LaRS). Hold on.

Corey can see Iris replay the recording of the professor entering the password. She sees where he moves his arm just before pressing the last digit of the code, blocking her view. Corey sees Iris stepping away from the group so she can talk freely.

Iris (over LaRS). LaRS, transfer recording to Corey.

Corey sees that she now has direct access to the recording and begins to look for ways to determine the final digit of the password.

Corey. Got it. Analyzing.

Corey replays the recording again with no success in figuring out the last digit.

Corey. LaRS, cross-reference sonic and motion interpolation of the recording.

Corey watches as the LaRS technology uses sound and motion to calculate the most likely button on the keyboard that was pressed.

Corey. Six.

Iris (over LaRS). Go for it.

Corey presses the number 6 button on the keyboard, then presses the Enter key. She hears a beep as the terminal validates the password on the mainframe.

Corey. I'm in.

Iris (over LaRS). Two minutes.

Corey. LaRS, start recording.

Corey uses the keyboard to type in commands to search for files that may link the professor to any illegal activities.

Corey. Nothing.

Iris (over LaRS). Keep digging.

Corey sees a die-cast model of an expensive sports car on the desk as she thinks about what else to search for. Corey requests a list of folders and scans through the list, then sees something interesting.

Corey. Porsche.

Iris (over LaRS). What?

Corey. Hold on.

Iris (over LaRS). One minute.

Corey sees a folder named Porsche and types in the command to display a menu of the files stored in the data folder. She sees several files named after projects, reports, and locations. Corey opens a file